Curb bit



Feb. 10, 1931.

R. J. KERRUISH CURB BIT Filed Feb. 1. 1930 1 N V EN TOR. Fa /p5 J 1%!"12/15/2 Patented F eb. 10, 1931 PATENT OFFICE wRAL'BH rxnim'ursn, or LITTLETON, COLORADO URB BIT Application filed February 1, 1930. SeriaI'NO. 425,246.

:The presentiinvention relates to bridlebits and more particularly toaybridle, bit which is adapted to belused as. a curb bitfor; horses andpwhichais so constructed. as to permit its .5 readyuse for a horse whichisdocile or not inclinedto be unruly.

:Anobject of this invention is to provide i .bit. which :is so constructed. as :to readily curb an unruly horse without inflictingzu'n- 1 due punishment. on thehorse .or/inj uring the mouth'of the horse.

Another object of. thisinvention .isto provideta humane curb-bit particularly adapted for horses being used ind-sports, ofvarious kindswherein arr-unusual amountof turning, stopping, or checkingis,:.don e, and is also designed for use inordinaryriding of horses.

A further object. iof this, rinventionwiss to providebitof this character whichis adapt-i ed for use ingaiting horses or the like and for horseswhich; have tender months, the so constructed; as notto 1n ure a bit I being tender mouth and at the'same time .provide ample curbing capacities. sorqthatthehorse will at .all times be .under {complete control of the rider.

,'.A still further object [of this .-in;v ention is to provide a bit which, .while suitableyfor use 43 with horses having; tender mo uths,. is,;a1sosuitable for use with. horses .having :what .is

commonly termed a tough mouth. "The tough mouthf is sometimes; caused by the mouth corners being pinched, pinching gene rally causing lunging, rearing and head fighting. O

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be 40 described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying draw ing wherein f V Figure 1 is a detailed perspective view of a device constructed accordingv to the preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation of the device; 7 i

Figure 3 is a detailed side elevation of the device showing the meth-odof operationof the bit on the mouth of, a horse; and V Figure 1 isa detailed side elevation of a modificationof the device.

. Referring to the drawing whereinlike nu-' merals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates a mouth .bar of conventional construction which is adapted for use in the curbing of horses, the mouth bar 10 having an arch-ed inner portion as at 11 which is adapted to press against the tongue of the horse. The mouth bar 10 is provided at the opposite end portions thereof with a pair of side bars 12 or the like Which are of elongated construction and are preferably cast integrally with ;the mouth bar .10; although if desired the side bars 12 may be riveted or otherwise secured to themouth bar 10. The side bars 12 are provided with. a-bridle loop 13. which is adapted to receive the conventional bridle. The ends of the side bars, 12 are provided tions or rings 14 for receiving driving reins 15 or the like. j The loops 13 are preferably in substantial alignment with the axes of the elongated bars 12 and the axes of the checking rings 14' are preferably spaced downwardly from the axes of theside rings 13 areprovided with downwardly ex tending or'depending portions '16, and ,a ring member 17 ispositioned upon the lower end portionof the extension 16, the ring 17 being adapted to receive a curb strap 18 01: the like. The extension 16 is preferably-positioned 1n angular 'rela'tionto the sidebars 12 and the upper end portion of the extension 16 connects with the sidebars 12 at a point spacedrearwardly from the mouth bar 10. The connecting point of the depending member 16 between the ring 13 and the side bars12 is' preferably arcuately inclined asat 19 and is adapted to receive between the inner edge portion ofthe ring 17 and the abutting edge of the side bar of the mouth of the'horse as at 20,it of course being understood that when the side-bars 12,. are moved: rearwardly, the edges of thebars 12. The bridle with looped Ypor- 12 the protruding portion horses mouth will be forced outwardly a slight degree and the space between the ring members 17 and the side bars 12 is sui'licient to receive the protruding edge of the horses mouth so as not to pinch or otherwise chafe the mouth of the horse.

In the. modification of this invention as disclosed in Figure 1, the side bars 12 are provided with lug members 21 adjacent the mouth bars 10 for loosely receiving ring members 22 so that an additional pair of reins or the like may be secured to the bit, the use of the reins attached to the rings 22 being particularly designed for ordinary driving where the horse is more or less gentle. As shown in Figure 4, the side bars 12 are provided with downwardly extending lug members at the forward end thereof and ring members 2-1 are adapted to be loosely mounted in the lug members 23, the ring members 2 1 being adapted to receive reins 15 or the like.

In the use of this device, the mouth bar 10 is adapted to be placed in the mouth of the horse in the conventional manner, the side bars 12 being normally in substantial alignment with the mouth of the horse. The bridle is adapted to be secured to th ring members 13 in the conventional manner and the curb strap 18 positioned about the lower jaw of the horses mouth so that the curb strap 18 and spaced rearwardly from the inner end of the horses mouth so; that the curb strap 18 will not chafe or pinch the mouth when under stress.

The curb chain carrier or curb strap carrier 1'? protrudes down and back in such a way as to carry the curb strap or curb chain out from the corners of the mouth so as not to pinch the corners of the mouth, leaving room for the mouth corners to bulge back of the mouth bar when pull is applied to the reins, at the same time carrying the curb strap or curb chain in the chin groove of the horse. This curb strap or curb chain carrier 17 can be made into any type of curb bit made of any metal.

The bit with the curb strap or curb chain carrier is designed for riding horses where much turning, stopping, checking is done with the horse, as in polo, cow horse work, cavalry drills, etc. It is also of value in gaiting a horse where the horse is required to get into or against the bit, without pinching his mouth and also for the amateur whose hand is not certain, and especially for the young or tender mouthed horse who is always doing the unexpected, and just as firm for the tough mouthed horse which is sometimes caused by the mouth being pinched, causing lunging, rearing and head fighting.

When the horse becomes unruly or it is desired to suddenly check the horse, the reins 15 may be pulled rearwardly thereby swinging the side bars 12, the mouth bar 10 serving as a pivotal member. The rearward movement of the ring member 14: will cooperatively force the curb strap 18 against the lower jaws of the horse and at the same time the arched portion 11 will bear against the tongue of the horse. When the side bars 12 are swung rearwardly, the mouth of the horse due to the upward movement of the curb strap 18 will be forced outwardly a slight degree and the protruding portion of the mouth will rest in the space between the curb ring 17 and the side bars 12, the space between these members being sutiicient to adequately receive the protruding portion of the horses mouth without in any way chafing or injuring the mouth.

The ring members 17, therefore, serve as a fulcrum or pivot, being held against movement by the curb strap 18, and the swinging of the side bars 12 will force the mouth bar or bit 11 downwardly and the horse will thus be placed under the complete control of the rider.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and designof the above specifically described embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is In a bit including a pair of side bars, a mouth bar and means for receiving bridle and rein attachin members; an elongated extension secured to the upper end of each side bar and extending rearwardly and downwardly of the upper end of the side bar, said extension having an eye therein disposed rearwardly of the rear edge of the side bar, and a curb strap disposed in said curb strap away from said side bars whereby to prevent pinching of the mouth between the strap and the rear edge of the side bars.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

RALPH J. KERRUI SH. 

